" 'Round that way," Two-Bit whispered to me and Steve. We both nodded and went through the other room to get to the kitchen.
I could hear him yell Ponyboy's name, Ponyboy yelled and Steve laughed, and I couldn't help but let out my own laughter at the scene and what was going on in front of me. The two were basically- what I call- "guy hugging", which is the weird and different way that guys hug so they don't seem like sissy's or whatever but still hug another guy who's a friend. Steve was included in that, which really shocked me considering how him and Ponyboy got along. The pan in Ponyboy's hand had a faint white film and I gave a curious look, which quickly left my face when I saw the egg splatted all over and against the wall clock- which set me into another fit of laughter.
"…where's Soda and Superman?" I heard Steve ask when I got back to Earth from the little place called my imagination.
Before anyone could answer, Steve was lifted off the ground and placed down in a different spot a few feet away. "That answers that," I mumbled to Ponyboy who chuckled at my comment.
Soda was running around the house looking for his jeans and his DX shirt. Steve and Two-Bit now were comfortably seated in the living room, each with a piece of chocolate cake and watching the Mickey Mouse cartoon that was currently playing on the television. "Is the one on either Mickey's Birthday Party or Orphan's Benefit?"
"It kinda looks like Mickey's Garden... but I can never tell which of these is which," Steve shrugged.
Two-Bit turned and looked at us two with shocked expressions, "I don't even know y'all anymore."
I couldn't help but scoff. "Excuse us if we don't pay attention to this as much as you do." My voice was full of tease and he stuck his tongue out at me, but then failed at holding in a laugh.
Darry, Steve and Sodapop all left for work and it was then me, Two-Bit and Ponyboy in the house. I would've been at school, but I knew people would be asking me about the whole thing in the papers and everything else cause people knew that I was friends with Ponyboy and I really wasn't in the mood for any questions about the whole thing. So instead, I was helping the two clean the dishes or whatever else needed to be cleaned around the house. Ponyboy and Two-Bit were talking about something, I'm not quite sure what about though. I couldn't really pay attention or concentrate on anything so far fo rhte morning, I'm not sure why though.
After the three of us finished the dishes and cleaning up we all went out. It wasn't unusual to see kids from the East Side out in the town during the day when most kids were in school, so no one questioned us. The two decided to go to a place like Dairy Queen, but I forgot what the place was actually called. After that, they decided to go see how Johnny and Dallas were doing.
To be honest, I wasn't too keen on going. It's not cause I didn't care about them, far from that. I was just scared of what I would see. Was I worried about the two of them? Of course I was, no question about it. But if either of them were seriously hurt, I knew I wouldn't be able to handle seeing them in that condition. I know it may seem kinda concieted to most people, but in a way I was helping them by not letting them see me so worried.
We got to the place like Dairy Queen and the two started to walk a little faster toward the door. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a blue mustang driving not far behind us. I tried my best to keep up with Ponyboy and Two-Bit. The cars stopped and a few guys got out the car, obviously Socs. They started to walk toward us. I looked down a bit and hoped that out of all the times my mind had drifted off so far today, that right now would be one of those moments.
Thankfully, like I hoped it would, my mind did start to drift off to it's own little world. I don't remember what I was thinking about, but my head was all over the place. I looked back up when one of them walked back over to the car with Ponyboy. I looked over to my left and saw Two-Bit with the other guys who were at the mustang. He was laughing hysterically and pointing at the bottom of their pants legs but the Socs weren't laughing, meaning he was teasing them about something that he would only be able to do now- considering we could kinda do whatever we wanted to them and not get beat up cause of the rumble.
After that, we headed over to the hospital. When we got there, the two headed to where Johnny was first. I could feel my heart start to beat a little faster with nervousness with every footstep I took toward the room. I started to get even more worried when at first, the nurse wouldn't let us into the room until the doctor let us go in.
When we were finally allowed to go into the room, I glanced through the door and fear took over. I don't know why, but it just did. I could feel my body tense up, the color drained from my face, my teeth clenched a little, and my heart began to beat even faster than before. "You ok, Rain?" Ponyboy asked, gaining my attention.
I shook my head a little bit and fixed my gaze on the ground, "I can't go in there." My voice was quiet.
"What's wrong?"
"I just… I just can't see him as hurt as he is. Would you be mad if I stayed out here?"
He shook his head. "Don't worry, I get it."
"Thanks…"
The two walked in. I let out a heavy sigh and leaned agaist the doorway, crossing my arms over my chest and looking down at the tile floor. I could hear them talking, but one voice was quieter than the other two and I unfortunately could tell who it was. That right there proved to me how bad he must've been. I immediately felt bad about not going in, even just to say hi to Johnny and just to see him, but like I said, I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it and that wouldn't help anyone in any way, shape or form possible.
A miunte or two later, Two-Bit came out into the hall. "Where ya goin'?" I asked him, getting up off the wall.
"See if there's a copy of Gone With the Wind down at the drug store," he answered, "Wanna come along?"{
I quickly nodded and we walked ot the elevator. "So how's he doin'?"
He stared at the elevator buttons for a seconde before pressing one of the buttons and answering me. "I'll be honest… he ain't doin' so hot."
My eyes widened and the color drained from my face once again. I didn't say anything and neither did Two-Bit. From what I could tell, neither of us could reall think of anything to say. I felt bad for putting him on the spot to answer the question and putting him in that position, but I couldn't figure out how to apologize for asking him.
We got back to the room and I waited outside again. Not even a minute later, they both came out from the room- this time looking even worse than when they went to walk in. I decided to keep my mouth shut this time so I wouldn't even risk asking anything that would make the two worse.
There was a lady yelling and arguing with a nurse. I recognized her as Mrs. Cade. They wouldn't let her into the room to see Johnny, and most likely with good reason. I stood behind Ponyboy to avoid her when Two-Bit walked up to her. "No wonder he hates your guts!" he yelled at her, "Go to hell!" He turned back to Ponyboy and me and walked to Dallas' room, obviously trying to hold back any tears that had formed in his eyes.
When we got to his room, I did the same by waiting outside the room. A nurse came out from the room with an annoyed expression. "Do you know the boy in there?" she asked. I nodded. "My condolences," she said with an annoyed tone and walked off in the other direction in attempt to get as far away from the room as possible, then turned the corner of the hall.
A few minutes later, Ponyboy and Two-Bit came out the room and back to the hallway. They didn't loo as shaken up as when they left Johnny's room, but for all I knew, they could just have been expecting the worst. Just like when they left Johnny's room, I kept my mouth shut just to make sure I didn't cause anything else to happen.
After the hospital we went to the bus stop. The two probably wanted to get back to the house as soon as possible to get ready for the rumble. I knew they were talking about something but like the rest of the morning, I couldn't pay attention to what. "Somethin' terrible's gonna happen tonight," was all I managed to get out of their conversation.
Whoever said that, I agreed with them one-hundred percent.
This is the second to last chapter! The last chapter (next one) will lead into the beginning of "To Love A Greaser" where I started that one back in October. I know I wrote that one first, but I decided that this one will be the official first of this little trilogy fan fiction of mine. So the order will be:
Before the Love
To Love a Greaser
The Power of Love
Like I said, I know I wrote this one and the second one in the opposite order, and there are probably people here who have already read "TO Love a Greaser" but for those who haven't, this leads into it.
I'm actually kind happy that this one is done, that's one less notebook to carry around with me in my bag, and one less thing to worry about finishing. Cause I literally have only 40 pages left of "Love and War" to read, but then there's "Heaven and Hell" (which is the last of the "North and South" trilogy) but then I can watch the show of it! Plus Wayward Pines started last week, so then I wanna read those books, plus I still have to read "Rumble Fish", "That Was Then… This Is Now" and "Tex", plus my mom got me "The Godfather" book, then "Gone With the Wind" then the Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes so I have a lot… not to mention school work and my own books that I'm writing
Anyway, second to last chapter! If you already read "To love a Greaser", there's always "The Power of Love"! :) peace from all the hippies of the world! =^-^=